Conservative Groups Use Strategy to Down Dems

There’s a method to the madness. Conservative groups that are spending nearly $50 million to help Republicans in competitive congressional races aren’t just tossing around that money willy nilly. They’re putting it into races that will lure national Democrats into spending where they’d prefer not to devote resources, The Hill reports.

American Crossroads and American Action Network are leading this "House surge strategy," in which they’ll devote cash to more than 20 competitive House races. Some of that money will go to districts where national Democrats have yet to spend themselves and where the National Republican Congressional Committee hasn’t directed cash to GOP candidates.

One district is New York's 22nd, where Democratic Rep. Maurice Hinchey hasn't seen a competitive race in years. "This is a district that's way behind enemy lines," said American Crossroads spokesman Jonathan Collegio. "He hasn't had a race in 18 years, and he's sitting on just $290,000."